How Patti LaBelle's Changed Her Diet To Feel Better Than Ever At 73

Patti LaBelle knew things had to change, and she was terrified. She'd been "working like a crazy lady," running from show to show, and she'd passed out on stage. After doctors ran test after test, they came back with the results: The godmother of soul had type 2 diabetes.

"My aunt and uncle had lost their eyesight, and my mom had a leg amputated [after being diagnosed with the disease]," she said. "I was really scared the same thing would happen to me."

That day, she started transforming her diet, eventually creating a lifestyle that meant she didn't miss the fried foods she once loved — and one that meant she didn't have to cut out all the desserts she craved. She is, after all, the woman behind Walmart's viral sweet potato pie.

Twenty-one years after her initial diagnosis — and right before the holidays — we caught up with the four-time cookbook author to find out which changes have had the biggest impact, the little swaps that made healthy food taste better, and yes, that pie phenomenon.

She Swears By Two Seasonings For Everything.

"My food tastes just like fried chicken, even though I usually broil or sauté or bake it now," LaBalle said. "I'm just good at disguising things with habanero and garlic." She also likes using the two ingredients to season roasted vegetables, amping up the flavor.

She Skips Carbs At Breakfast.

While LaBelle occasionally has cereal, most mornings she starts the day with a smoked salmon omelette with a tiny bit of low-fat cheese, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. If she's craving something lighter, she'll slice up a few tomatoes.

Paras Griffin

She Travels With Pots And Pans In Her Luggage.

Since finding diabetes-friendly, healthy meals on the road can be tricky, LaBelle often cooks for herself. Her go-to is a kale, Vidalia onion and heirloom tomato salad topped with fish. "Salmon sometimes has a lot of salt, so I try to watch that," she said.

Her Go-To Dinner Will Surprise You.

Another favorite is less expected. "I'm cooking liver and onions for dinner tonight," she said. "I put just enough grapeseed oil on the bottom of the pan so it isn't even greasy or slide-y. I cook it about a minute and a half each side, with some sautéed Vidalia onions and Brussels sprouts."

She's Made A Few Sugar Swaps.

Though LaBelle's known for her pies, when she's cooking at home, she typically forgoes sugar in favor of stevia. "If I have low blood sugar, the thing I would scream for is ice cream or cheesecake, in moderation," she said.

When she's sampling her line of pies, she limits herself to two tablespoons of the treat. "I have a bit, just a baby bit," she said.

She Still Can't Wrap Her Mind Around Her Pie That Went Viral.

While LaBelle's pies were selling well from the moment they launched, it wasn't until YouTuber James Wright Chanel posted a musical ode to her sweet potato pie that things really took off — to the tune of one pie being sold every second in the 72 hours after that video went viral. So what made it so good?

"I don't know. I have the same secrets my mother and father had. Mine is probably as good as your parents' or anyone else's," she laughed. "Maybe people know me as a cook, and because I'm a celebrity and they saw that video, they think, 'well, we'll try hers.' Thank God people loved the pie."

She's Traded In Her Midnight Snack For This.

LaBelle's ultimate vice is chocolate ice cream, but when living with diabetes, it's not exactly a treat you can enjoy on the regular. "I use Hood chocolate beverage instead, and I add yogurt and make a shake," she said. "Hood is something I can use in my routine for diabetes, so I like to make that," referring to the brand's Calorie Countdown drink, which boasts 90 percent less sugar and 65 percent less calories than regular chocolate milk.

She Stays Active.

LaBelle's not big on the gym. Instead, she'd prefer to sneak in cardio when she performs. "On stage, I do a total show," she said. "I'm 73 years young, but people say it's like I'm 20 years younger on stage."

At home, she'll take her shih tzu for walks.

"I'm not a walker-walker, but I like to take him out for a few blocks," LaBelle said.

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